A chance meeting on the "wrong" day of the week led to a solution to a couple of housing problems and, eventually, to love. My friend told me his love story this week and gave me permission to share it with you. Hope you're encouraged by the way God showed up in his life.

A prayer written down by St. Ambrose of Milan from the mid- to late-300s A.D. inspired a song, A Heart for You, which pleads for a new and pure heart. May his words and my song move you to give thanks to God and choose to walk in his ways.

A Heart for You

Lord, give me a heart of flesh within

Instead of a heart of stone

A heart to adore and enjoy you, my King

To follow your ways alone

Lord, kindle a fire within my soul

A flame that burns bright and pure

For left to myself I will never be whole

I’ll never find sin’s only cure

©2025 Mike Neifert

(Inspired by St Ambrose’s Prayer)

It's Boxing Day. Don't know what that is? Listen and learn. (My apologies to the Brits and others who actually know what the day is about and celebrate it annunally. My ignorance might show to you.)

Battery-powered candles have taken the place of the real flaming kind. They do the job, but aren't very warm. In the spiritual realm, only real fire works. There's no human-powered option.

A week or two or three back, the Christmas displays in one of our local parks were turned on. My wife and I were there for the "Let there be light" moment. Shepherds and angels, centuries ago, were on hand for a much more important light coming into the world moment.

The church recently received a bill or two from an out-of-state tollway addressed to a man who was not a part of our church. With a little effort, I discovered this man's identity and current condition. Deceased. He wasn't going to pay the bill.

For what are you thankful? A normal question for this week in November in the U.S. every year. I asked this question of a group of middle schoolers along with a more fun question. Their answers were great! Hope you'll give thanks along with them as you consider the usual question and the more unusual one.

What is God capable of? More than we could ever ask or imagine. That's what Paul said in Ephesians 3:20-21. This song, based on the words of these verses, is encouragement for the church to trust God's power for us.

To Him Who Is Able

Verse:

Now to him who is able

To do immeasurably more

Now to him who is able

To do far more than we ask

Or even imagine in this world

To him be glory in the church

His power displayed in the saints

To him be glory in Christ our Lord

Forever and ever! Amen!

Forever and ever! Amen!

Forever and ever! Amen!

Ending:

To him be glory in the church

His power displayed in the saints

To him be glory in Christ our Lord

Forever and ever! Amen!

©2025 Mike Neifert (Based on Ephesians 3:20-21)

Finding salvation isn't just about saying a prayer. It's about putting faith in Jesus, of course, but it's shown in following him.

Watching a dad urge his daughter to finish the race she'd started got me to thinking about the love of God for his children.